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The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center will host its quarterly “Conversations” Series, this time focusing on the Progression of Plant Science, on Thursday, November 11, 2010 from 5:15 – 7:00 pm. at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Road. The event is sponsored by Boeing. The program will feature the Center’s founding President, Roger Beachy.

Plant science is nothing new, though the strategies that are now employed vary greatly from the recent past. With new technology comes the promise of fantastic breakthroughs: food with greater nutrition, plants with increased yields and drought tolerance, the replication of medicinal compounds, sustainable energy sources and so much more. These advances have not come as fast as many have desired, and despite great progress, some still question the viability of plant science to solve global issues.

What is the state of modern plant science? Where have we struggled? What role does the government and society play in moving things forward? Is there a communication gap between scientists and the public at large? What is next for plant science, and how much progress have we made?

In October 2009, Dr. Roger Beachy, founding president of the Danforth Center, began his term as the first Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). NIFA is a newly formed agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with a goal to stimulate and fund the research and technological innovations that will enhance domestic and international agriculture, making it more productive and environmentally sustainable.

Join moderator James W. Davis, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Washington University, for a conversation with Dr. Beachy about his reflections on a life dedicated to plant research, his time in Washington DC, and his thoughts about what the future holds for the field.

To join us for an enlightening discussion, reserve your spot today! Reservations are required but complimentary; seating is limited and priority will be given to Center Friends. To attend, please phone: 314-587-1070 or email: conversations[.]danforthcenter.org

About The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research at the Danforth Center will feed the hungry and improve human health, preserve and renew the environment, and enhance the St. Louis region and Missouri as a world center for plant science. The Center’s work is funded through competitive grants and contract revenue from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Agency for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center invites you to visit its new website, danforthcenter.org, featuring interactive information on the Center's scientists, news and research, including the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels, the Center for Advanced Biofuel Research, and the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts. Public education outreach, RSS feeds and the brand-new "Roots & Shoots" blog help keep visitors up to date with Center's current operations and areas of research.

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